ATTENDANCES: Andrew Marshall (Chairperson), Chris Westcott, Dave Weaver (Dept of Ag) Phil Mellon, Maurice McCormick (Deputy Chairperson), Louise Duxbury (GS), Graham Wright (Water Corp), Peter Collins (CALM), Kim Kershaw (CALM), Naomi Arrowsmith (DOE), Julie Pech (DOE), Dale Holley (Secretary).

APOLOGIES: Phillip Marshall, Graeme Heighton, John Blaney-Murphy

1. CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES:

   Minutes of previous meeting were confirmed on the motion of Maurice McCormick.

2. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES:

   5.1 Production Focus for TCG.

   Louise Duxbury discussed further the idea of encouraging landowners to be involved with the TCG. In order to have more input, one of the options was to get together groups that already exist, such as Pro Graze, Rainbow Coast Horticultural Group and the Potato Growers Ass.
   • These are the groups that come together to improve the productivity of their farming
   • When organising Soil Fertilizer Workshops the concept would be to have them in conjunction with these groups.
   • To discuss beforehand the points they want addressed.
   • NA suggested including Perennial Pasture Groups
   • For the Restoration Plan to be implemented, a crossing of these groups is needed.
   • Best practice information can then be provided

   5.2 Further information regarding the plane flights over the catchment and times:

   Only one days notice is needed - this is necessary for weather prediction. Early morning is idea when there is less wind. The half hour flights will be advertised. Around $89.00 pp. Contact Louise at Green Skills, Denmark.

   5.3 Bus Trip

   Looking at soil amendments and alternative fertiliser trials in South West catchments, eg GeoCatch, Peel Harvey.
   • Funding is being sought through SCRIPT, for accommodation and transport. To keep costs down, participants are asked to arrange own food.
   • End of May is the suggested month
   • Louise Duxbury asked for the number of nights away that participants would prefer - group members said one night away was sufficient. Louise advised this will therefore entail two very long full days.
   • Louise to compile itinerary

   5.8 Watsonia spraying

   Mapping update for 2004. Andrew Marshall tabled a map of the spraying done for the 2004 season by TCG and Bushcarers Group
   • Graham Wright to produce a copy of spraying done by the Water Corp.
   • Dale Holley to approach Westrail for an up to date map of spraying they have done in the area.

   4. Regarding using left over funding from the boardwalk on Lake Powell.

   Louise advised that there will be no left over monies. The remainder will be utilized preparing and constructing the bird poster.

3. CORRESPONDENCE:

   (inwards)

   1. 17th January 2005 From Lottery West asking for grant acquittal for the bird hide project. Louise Duxbury to contact Fay Overheu with explanation of delay
   2. 22nd December, 2004 from SCRIPT (Southern Incentive 2 grant funding for Perennial Pastures demonstration sites on Darren Burrows and Phillip Marshall's properties has been approved).
   3. 17th January, 2005 from SCRIPT (acknowledging the TCG's written agreement to the conditions of the perennial pastures demonstration project.

   (outwards)

   1. 13th January 2005 from Andrew Marshall to Chris Baillie, SCRIPT. Southern Incentives Written agreement by Andrew accepting SCRIPT's conditions for receipt of the Southern Incentives grant for the TCG perennial pastures demonstrations

4. TREASURERS REPORT:

   Opening balance of $68,057.79, Expenses $3,309 leaving a closing balance of $65,909.70. (Of this balance, $__,____ is grant funding reserved for maintenance of the Coast and Clean Seas Marshall and Martin wetland and stream restoration demonstration sites). Copy attached.

   Tabled: Cheque for $6,600 received from DOE for purchase of materials (fencing, revegetation, stock watering points, and stock / vehicle crossings) to fund stream restoration works by Green Corps (January-June 2005).

5. GENERAL BUSINESS:

   5.1 Funding for implementation works and timing

   The application for Envirofund which Kevin Hopkinson, Andrew Marshall and Maurice McCormick addressed saw an increase in grant rates. The full amount of $50,000 was applied for. Fencing grants have gone up to $2,000 km, and increased amounts will now be available for watering points and stock crossings. The increase is recognition of increased contracting rates due to fuel costs, and increased costs of materials. This is the first major increase in Federal Government grant rates since commencement of the NHT grants many years ago.

   • Within the Envirofund application, $1,000 (the maximum amount allowed) has been requested for perennial pasture trials. The grant application was compiled by Kevin Hopkinson.
   • If successful, the grant will be provided for on-ground works in the 2005/2006 financial year.
   • Naomi Arrowsmith has met with Kristina Fleming from SCRIPT, and made a request for funding of Bob Gretton's work one day per week in Torbay Catchment allocating fencing and restoration grants, up to 30th June, 2005.

   5.2 Friends of Lake Powell:

   Following the Lake Powell Workshop it was recommended the TCG write to CALM to formally express interest in setting up a "Friends of Lake Powell" group. Such a group would be under the auspices of the TCG Inc. The new group would have more detailed input into the Draft Management Guidelines for Lake Powell.

   ACTION: Louise Duxbury to draft a letter to CALM and forward to Dale Holley to attend to.

   5.3 Green Corp Team update:

   Green Corp team have started with a focus on Torbay again.

   • Bob Gretton making sure the Green Corp Team have projects ready
   • Paul Fassen (Organic Horticulturalist) is the Team Leader. If you have any projects for the area, Paul can be contacted at Green Skills Albany

   5.4 Perennial Trials Meeting: : (Paul Sanford)

   Part of the trial will be run using tall wheat grass and the trial areas will be the difficult country that bog up in the winter time and that grow barley grass that have a certain amount of salt show up.

   • Maurice McCormick has obtained information and aerial shots of the trial areas
   • Trial areas are in good visual sites (eg: along South Coast Highway)
   • The demonstration sites are something Pro-Graze could be involved in
   • Maurice McCormick to hand information to Andrew Marshall for circulation

   5.5 Other

   • Regarding the use of water at Five Mile Creek by an industry. (In relation to a meeting with Andrew Marshall, Maurice McCormick and Peter Atwell) Dept of Environment has asked Peter Atwell to document his complaint. The matter will be dealt with further when a formal complaint has been received.
   • Wilson's Inlet Catchment Group will be having a Soils Workshop. Ron Master advised that the workshop will be advertised
   • The Dept. of Environment's Phytoplankton Ecology Unit puts out a monthly algal bloom report, based on analysis of samples taken from the catchment's affected waterbodies ie. Lake Powell, Marbellup Brook and Torbay Inlet. These reports can be viewed on the Watershed Torbay Website (www.torbay.scric.org)

Meeting closed 20:30pm
Next Torbay Catchment Meeting will be held on 23rd March, 2005 at 19:30pm - Elleker Hall.